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2018 Mercedes-benz CLA
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
44 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (27% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#92 of 434Among the 2018 models with a matured record, the 2018 Mercedes-benz CLA ranks #92, scoring higher than 77% of them. See the 2018 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Mercedes-benz CLA, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (12) · Engine (9) · Airbags (7) · Body & structure (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
27%12 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“The panoramic sunroof opens and closes but will not shut completely in the back. When calling around for a quote mechanics were aware of the issue occurring with this …”
Engine
20%9 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“Check engine code PO52E - Positive Crankcase Ventilation regulator valve performance. Needs to be recalled”
Airbags
16%7 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“My car clock spring has went out, and it affects my car airbag deploy. I see it’s a problem with the Mercedes Cla250. It’s very dangerous it causes your horn not to wo…”
Body & structure
14%6 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“Water coming into the car through the floor”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 44 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 2 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Mercedes-benz before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Mercedes-benz CLA beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every CLA model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Mercedes-benz CLA against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.